The Banks’ New Venture: Unveiling Their Foray into Stock Trading

In 2025, a wave of banks embarked on a strategic journey, opting to invest in and acquire stakes in securities firms. This move was driven by a singular vision: to deeply engage with the capital markets and catalyze profit growth.

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In July 2025, the extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Prosperity and Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank (PGBank, code: PGB, UPCoM) approved the plan to contribute capital and purchase shares to establish and acquire subsidiaries and affiliated companies in Vietnam. The focus is on the following sectors: securities underwriting, securities brokerage, investment fund certificate management and distribution, investment portfolio management and stock trading, and insurance.

The target companies that PGBank intends to invest in are securities companies, fund management companies, or insurance companies that meet other conditions stipulated by laws and PGBank’s internal regulations at the time of investment.

The capital for investment will come from PGBank’s chartered capital and reserve funds, in compliance with legal regulations. The investment ratio will be the entire or partial chartered capital of the target company, depending on the agreement with related parties and within the limit allowed by laws.

The transaction value and investment value are expected to be 20% or more of the bank’s chartered capital, as stated in the latest audited financial statements, or another suitable amount following the laws and PGBank’s charter. This ensures that the target company becomes a subsidiary or affiliate of PGBank.

This expansion into non-banking financial activities is part of PGBank’s 5-year strategy for the 2025–2030 period, aiming to boost growth and enhance competitiveness.

Similarly, the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of Saigon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Sacombank, code: STB) approved a plan to purchase a securities company to become a subsidiary of the bank.

Sacombank will contribute capital and/or purchase shares in the securities company, holding over 50% ownership, with a total investment value of up to VND 1,500 billion.

Regarding the reason for acquiring a securities company, Sacombank’s leadership believes that investment banking activities are a global trend, creating significant revenue for banks worldwide, including Vietnam. Some banks have effectively implemented this strategy by owning securities companies. Therefore, investing in a securities company will help increase service revenue and enhance Sacombank’s competitiveness.

Currently, Sacombank is the largest shareholder of SBS Securities, with a holding of nearly 13.8%. At the Annual General Meeting, Sacombank’s management confirmed that they do not intend to buy back SBS Securities’ capital but instead choose a new securities company.

The South East Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SeABank, code: SSB, HoSE) also approved a plan to purchase shares of ASEAN Securities Company to make it a subsidiary. With a chartered capital of VND 1,500 billion, SeABank intends to acquire up to 100% of the securities company’s capital. The acquisition is expected to take place in 2025 and/or in accordance with the approval of competent state agencies, legal regulations, and practical situations.

SeABank’s leadership believes that, alongside its core banking business, the acquisition of a securities company will provide an opportunity to diversify its product and service offerings, cross-sell to different customer segments, especially individuals, and diversify its investment activities, revenue streams, and shareholder capital optimization.

Shareholders of the Vietnam Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MSB) also approved the plan to contribute capital and purchase shares of a securities company and a fund management company to make them subsidiaries of MSB.

According to General Director Nguyen Hoang Linh, MSB targets securities companies with clean assets and a chartered capital of VND 300–500 billion. MSB will then participate in management and adjust capital accordingly to support related products.

In the proposal to shareholders, MSB’s management expressed their optimism about the Vietnamese stock market’s qualitative and quantitative growth, supported by various factors. The market capitalization target for 2030 is set at 120% of GDP, with an upgrade from a frontier market to an emerging market anticipated in 2025. This upgrade is expected to attract approximately $25 billion in annual foreign indirect investment to Vietnam.

Recognizing the trends and growth potential, MSB identifies the securities and investment banking sector as a key focus for future development. Investing in a securities company and a fund management company will enable MSB to expand into investment banking, offering comprehensive financial services such as securities brokerage, financial advisory, securities and bond issuance, asset management, and fund investment.

Moreover, owning a securities company and a fund management company will enhance MSB’s capacity to provide premium wealth management services to potential high-value clients, diversifying their investment options in securities, bonds, and other financial instruments.

This ownership also allows MSB to deepen its participation in the capital market, elevating the market’s long-term development. Particularly, MSB will have a significant advantage in providing both banking services and supporting businesses in capital mobilization through the securities channel.

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